Metro Cash & Carry Co Ltd expects that sales revenue from its catering customers will account for 40 percent of total income in China by 2010, up from the current 20 percent, fueled by increased demand from hotels.

 

"I see many business opportunities from four- and five-star hotels in China," said Peter Schweighofer, vice president of Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry Co Ltd.

 

"Especially in light of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Expo, they are paying more attention to food safety, which will help to bolster our business."

 

The catering customers are major clients of the German company.

 

Last year, the company's turnover from the sector increased 35 percent, outpacing total revenue growth of 24.1 percent to 9.37 billion yuan (US$1.21 billion).

 

"We have a huge target for China, a fast-growing market which can generate the biggest turnover for us in the future," Schweighofer said.

 

(Shanghai Daily May 11, 2007)